Atlanta Falcons – Minnesota Vikings
USA - NFL
05/11/2023 - 19:00 CET
The Atlanta Falcons have made a significant change before this game. Head coach Arthur Smith has decided to replace their starting quarterback, Desmond Ridder, with Taylor Heinicke. Heinicke was given a chance in the second half against the Tennessee Titans last week and left a positive impression. He has been the starting quarterback for the Washington Commanders for the past two seasons, so this role is not new to him. Ridder has been identified as the main culprit for the Falcons' slower offense this season, having thrown six interceptions and an equal number of touchdown passes so far. This is insufficient, considering the offensive weapons at the team's disposal, including superstar running back Bijan Robinson and several good receiving options like tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Drake London. On the other hand, the Falcons' defense has been consistent throughout the season and ranks among the top 12-13 defenses in the NFL in most important statistics.
The Minnesota Vikings' season has been a rollercoaster. They started with a 1-4 record, and in their Week 5 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Justin Jefferson, their best wide receiver and one of the best in the NFL, got injured. It was expected to be a major blow to the Vikings, but the opposite happened. They found their offensive rhythm, while their defense improved week by week. They managed to string together three consecutive wins, but last week brought another shock. Quarterback Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles tendon, ending his season. The Vikings immediately traded for Joshua Dobbs, but rookie Jaren Hall will get the chance to start this game. The Vikings' running game has been almost non-existent throughout the season, meaning they will have to rely entirely on Hall in his first career start.
The Minnesota Vikings enter this game without their two best players (Cousins and Jefferson). Offensively, they will have significant challenges moving the ball consistently against the more than solid Atlanta Falcons defense. The Falcons have played much better on offense with Heinicke than with Ridder, and it is expected that the former Commanders quarterback will bring a new energy and improve an offense with a lot of potential. In this situation, it would be a significant embarrassment for the Falcons to lose a game in front of their home fans against a team that didn't look good even when they had Cousins and Jefferson together.